Lift Station Basement-Air Bubbles BR Above

heidi_tapleyNovember 21, 2012

We have a Liberty sewer pump system installed in our basement bathroom, and it has been in use for about 8 years. We haven't had any problems until recently. Now, when the lift station turns on and begins pumping, it causes problems in the bathroom on the main level of the house which is directly above the bathroom. I get large air bubbles in my toilet and can hear gurgling in the shower drain. What would cause this?

The Liberty pump station has it's own dedicated vent up from the buried tank and the main level bath vents out into attic area. The pump station and main level bathroom do share a drain line to the septic tank, with the main level bath being closer to the septic tank.

I just know that when my parents had trouble with sewage backing up--it was because the septic needed servicing. My thought was that if the "troubled" drains are closer to the septic tank than the other, perhaps the tank is nearing a service time.

If it hasn't been serviced in over 9 years, it is probably time to do so, regardless of whether it solves your problem or not (and if it solves the problem, BONUS!)

Son went away to college so downstairs bath wasn't being used. Now that he is back the bubbling has continued.

Since this posting we had septic pumped, check valve replaced and lower level venting checked.

I have noticed before I hear the ejector pump kick in to push water out, the water in the upstairs toilet slowly drains down and then there is a gush of bubble coming out as pump kicks in to push water out. There are two AAV vents in the attic. One is for the main bath area, and the another on the other side of the house above kitchen, laundry room. In the crawl space area where ejector pump is the pump has a separate vent pipe coming straight up and the vanity, toilet and shower are connected to and AAV vent.

"I have noticed before I hear the ejector pump kick in to push water out, the water in the upstairs toilet slowly drains down and then there is a gush of bubble coming out as pump kicks in to push water out."

It still sounds like the vents for the pit and the rest of the system have become interconnected.

They are required to remain separate, all the way to separate holes in the roof.